ENGLAND'S Euro 2012 football squad was sent reeling yesterday when striker Jermain Defoe returned home after the death of his father.

The development is the latest blow for new manager Roy Hodgson, who has already lost key players to injury.

Spurs star Defoe, 29, flew back to Britain just hours after the Three Lions arrived at their tournament HQ in Krakow, Poland.

He will almost certainly miss England’s opening match against France on Monday evening. Defoe was escorted from a five-star hotel in the city centre by an FA aide and driven to Krakow airport.

An FA spokesman said: “Jermain will rejoin the England squad in due course.” He has been told by Hodgson he can have as much time as he needs.

No replacement is being called up.

Defoe’s father Jimmy, 47, had been battling throat cancer and was being treated in London’s Royal Marsden Hospital. The jobless decorator, from Dominica, ended up in a shared flat in east London, living off benefits.

the fans, my family and friends, the England boys, the FA and the manager for their support. I can’t tell you how much it means to me. A special thank you to Royal Marsden’s doctors and nurses who looked after my dad, very special people

Jermain Defoe on Twitter

Later the star used Twitter to thank “the fans, my family and friends, the England boys, the FA and the manager for their support. I can’t tell you how much it means to me. A special thank you to Royal Marsden’s doctors and nurses who looked after my dad, very special people”.